It’s been a banner year for Joe Gibbs Racing (at least on paper). Denny Hamlin has been the points leader more often than not, with 3,034, Chase Briscoe’s finally living up to the hype, and Christopher Bell? He just punched his ticket to the Round of 12 with a clutch Bristol win. All three look like solid bets to make it to the Round of 8. Maybe even Phoenix. But there’s one JGR driver whose season hasn’t been quite as picture-perfect.

One who’s had the speed to lead laps, showed up front in the NASCAR inaugural In-Season Challenge to bag $1 million, and mixed it with the best, but can’t seem to catch a break when it really counts. And it’s that fight, the grind through bad luck and early-season struggles, that’s got team owner Joe Gibbs publicly tipping his cap.

Joe Gibbs acknowledges Ty Gibbs’ resilience

“The 54 group has just really fought their heart out,” Joe Gibbs said after the Bristol Night Race, perfectly summing up Ty Gibbs’ evening, and really, his season. Gibbs looked primed to finally snag that elusive first career Cup Series win after qualifying fourth and leading a whopping 201 laps. But Bristol can be cruel.

On Lap 435, disaster struck when Ty Gibbs appeared to cut down a tire and missed the pit entrance. Forced to crawl back around to pit road, he lost all track position and had to settle for a heartbreaking 10th-place finish. Now, this is a result that doesn’t reflect the strength of his night.

Joe Gibbs was quick to put Bristol into context by pointing back to Gibbs’ run a week earlier. “Last week I thought we had a real solid week at St. Louis,” he said, referencing Gateway, where Ty started 21st and clawed his way to another 10th-place finish. It was a quiet but gritty performance, marked by disciplined pit strategy and a strong long-run pace that kept him in the top after the halfway point.

That perseverance is why Gibbs, despite being winless and missing the playoffs this year, is still earning admiration from the top. “Sometimes you admire the people the most that are fighting when it’s really, really tough. And right now it’s been tough for the 54,” Gibbs admitted. Statistically, Ty Gibbs’ year hasn’t been a bust. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has four top-5 finishes and nine top-10s, along with 300 laps led. He also saw a high finish of 2nd at Chicago. But the breakthrough win continues to slip through his fingers.

For Ty Gibbs, 2025 has been less about collecting trophies and more about proving his grit. Bristol and Gateway showed just how close he is to breaking through, even if the results didn’t reflect it. If the No. 54 team keeps fighting the way they have, that long-awaited first Cup win might be coming sooner than anyone expects.

Steve Letarte believes Ty Gibbs is close to his first Cup win

When Steve Letarte talks, people in the NASCAR world listen, and for good reason. The former crew chief turned TV analyst has spent two decades reading drivers, setups, and situations better than most. So when he singles out Ty Gibbs as a future winner, it’s not just wishful thinking, but it’s insight backed by experience.

“Ty Gibbs, he’s still winless, but I was impressed,” Letarte said on NASCAR After The Race. “I know that sounds weird, but I’ve seen him make other mistakes that I thought were kind of youth or inexperience or frustration.” His point? Bristol showed growth. Despite missing pit road late in the race, Gibbs rebounded to a top 10 finish and is currently sitting 19th in the Cup Series Standings with 631 points.

Letarte’s belief isn’t just based on one race either. Gibbs has quietly stacked up decent finishes this season, keeping pace with some of the playoff drivers despite missing the cut himself. As per the statistics shared by NASCAR Insights on X on September 6, Ty Gibbs sits atop the list of most top-5 finishes with the Next Gen car with 16, and that is enough for him to find his place in conversation as one of the most promising young talents on the grid.

The seven remaining races on the 2025 schedule could be Gibbs’ breakout moment, but Letarte suggested the window extends into 2026. “If it doesn’t happen this year, I think early next season he’ll get it done,” the 46-year-old said, citing Gibbs’ speed and improved decision-making.

With this kind of endorsement from one of the most respected voices in the sport, Gibbs may not be lifting trophies yet, but the message is clear. He’s knocking on the door, and eventually, someone’s going to have to let him in. What do you think? When will Ty Gibbs lift his first-ever NASCAR Cup trophy?